Business Development:  Sales or Marketing?By Karin SchwartzFounder & CEO of Affiliate business Schwartz Associates, LLCWhat is the definition of business development? Do you know?Business development is a quasi sale and marketing role.  You build relationships necessary to do business and the process by which you identify, meet and communicate with the prospect that ultimately makes them become a client.  From a marketing perspective it is more about exposing the brand, than creating it.  Whether it is networking, social media, speaking...

GUIDE TO LOOKING YOUR BEST FOR SUCCESS(DRESSING FOR SUCCESS IS ONLY PART OF THE PICTURE!)By Deborah Stone, Principal/Owner – Beauty GPS Being Fashionable and Updated...It’s not brain surgery but it does require a little bit of work. No worries...you can do it!First of all, get on board with the concept. We all know people make judgments in a flash. If you look your best, your first impression will really count. Who wouldn’t want a head start?Second, commit to being flexible...just...

By U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski   The foundation of America’s economic strength is its small businesses. They create more than half of the jobs in the United States. Today’s tough economic climate is tough on our small businesses. That’s why one of my top priorities is to keep fighting for the Small Business Jobs Act. The Small Business Jobs Act will help small businesses weather the economic storm. At a time when even those with good credit get turned away by banks,...

Courtesy of Douglas A. Strouse, Ph.D. CEO of Global Data Source/ President of CEO Clubs, Baltimore Chapter                        Think about this.  Every time a woman business owner makes a mistake and hires an executive or a manager who does not work out, it costs her organization about 3-5 times the person’s annual salary.  This can be quite costly, particularly when executives and high-level managers are earning six figure salaries.  When mistakes are made, your organization has,...

Ernst & Young LLP is pleased to announce the winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award in Maryland.  This group of leading entrepreneurs was selected by an independent judging panel made up of regional business, academic and community leaders.  The winners were revealed at a gala event on Friday, June 18 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. “Ernst & Young believes in the power of entrepreneurship,” said Harry Thomasian, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year...

Recently we looked at the possibility of getting an SBA loan. In total disclosure – we were not 100% certain we were interested in pursuing the process, for a variety of reasons – but an injection of funds to allow us to grow in a positive direction, quicker than the regular old boot-strapping road might take us…at times appeals wildly in comparison.However, as we started into it – it became incredibly apparent we were pretty green (pun intended) about the...

By Johanna Dolan   To learn more about Johanna's company click here. In the last 6 months I’ve learned tremendous things about the way I communicate, the language I use and the energy I put on things. I’ve learned that the way I think about something impacts the results I get. Pretty easy concept, right? Not so easy. It’s a very simple concept. There’s a difference. On more than one occasion I’ve imagined that I’m making myself understood. I thought that the way...

On Wednesday night MyCity4Her.com sponsored the benefit for Suited to Succeed – a fabulous organization here in Baltimore that helps disadvantaged women re-enter the work force with confidence. I saw a lot of fabulous women who were shining examples of success including Sheela Murthy (Murthy Law Firm), Jennifer Goldman (My Virtual COO), Charisse Wernecke (Institute of Notre Dame Prep), Janine Di Paula Stevens (Vircity) among many. There was less people than prior years but the organization’s new Executive Director –...

Selecting Furniture the Right Way by Affiliate Rita Alexander, Chrysalis InteriorsAn all too common mistake made by anyone, including women when purchasing expensive furniture is the discovery that the proportion of the furniture doesn’t work in the space for which it was purchased. This happens at home, as it happens in the place of business - and women in business are no exception to this mistake.  When this happens to one of my clients, I get the call to come...

Local photographer, Kimberly Phillips-Simonetti of Kimberly Fine Portraiture, is holding her 6th Annual Johns Hopkins Children’s Center portrait event to raise funds for the children and families affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Children’s Center. Kimberly has risen over $56,000 for the non-profit Johns Hopkins Children’s Center organization. Click here for more information.Johns Hopkins Children’s Center (JHCC), is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization committed caring for sick children, researching the causes of and cures for childhood illness, and train the pediatricians...

Go or No-Go?: A Smart Strategy for Choosing Opportunitiesby Carol Coughlin, CEO/Founder of BottomLine Growth Strategies, Inc.Capital is tight for many companies these days. Even so, business owners must still invest in their businesses in order to grow - or simply survive. Especially, invest in a way that has the potential to positively impact your return on investment (ROI). As a business owner, you are regularly presented with opportunities. Your task is to determine which one or ones will result...

Attention Women in Business Are you a woman entrepreneur with big plans? Do you have the vision and passion for growing your company? Do you know a woman entrepreneur on her way to creating a market-leading company of tomorrow? The Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Winning Women program is seeking a select group of women entrepreneurs to join an elite network of the country’s best entrepreneurs and high-growth companies and participate in a customized program designed to: * Identify potential partners, strategic alliances, customers...

The 21st Century Guide to Employee Background Investigations By Lynn H. Levy, owner of Affiliate business L.H. Levy Investigations, Inc 9/11/01….Identity Theft….Employee mass murders...what is next? The Corporate world has changed, along with the political and environmental worlds.  Words such as ground zero, terrorist, anthrax, exit interviews for disgruntled employees were certainly not common terminology prior to 2001. These days a woman in business has to consider, is the person you hire really whom you hire? Computer hacking, feuding among co-workers,...

Authenticity is the finest line there is for us women when it comes to our professional and personal lives.  We clamor for those around us to be true to form, yet often times it feels as if we’re replicating ourselves into some pseudo clone and can’t quite identify with who we really are.“Research shows that women who behave in too masculine a  way are respected but not very well liked by their colleagues, while women who are too feminine are...

The ROI of Authenticity to Transparency by Trish Dozier – LA4HER Center of Influence Authenticity is the finest line there is for us women when it comes to our professional and personal lives.  We clamor for those around us to be true to form, yet often times it feels as if we’re replicating ourselves into some pseudo clone and can’t quite identify with who we really are. “Research shows that women who behave in too masculine a  way are respected but not...

In 2008 MyCity4Her.com CEO Monyka Berrocosa was honored to win a Smart CEO Brava Award Here is the list of 2010's deserving  winners: Advanced Hyperbarics Dr. JoAnne Morgan Better Business Bureau, Greater Maryland Angie Barnett Carroll Engineering, Inc. Judy Carroll Encore Path, Inc. Kris Appel Federal Staffing Resources LLC Tracy Balazs Hartman Business Technology Marie Hartman Image Consulting Group International Remi Duyile Ivory House Health Services Hazel Kuchinsky Jhpiego Leslie Mancuso Mahan Rykiel Associates Catherine Mahan MarCal Medical, Inc. Candace Keaton MD SPCA Aileen Gabbey Media Star Promotions Carin Lazarus Pinnacle Communications Resource Company Tracey Haldeman Potomac Business Environments, LLC Erin O'Donovan Respira Medical Y. Maria Welch Rudolph's Office & Computer Supply Bonnie Rudolph Saint Agnes...

By Monyka Berrocosa, Founder/CEO MyCity4Her.com Embracing change and all that comes with it.  No matter how successful one is or isn’t – we all can fall prey to the natural human tendency to stay “cemented in contentment”. Mediocrity as a state in and of itself is not something we tend to seek – especially not if we consider ourselves achievers but if you think about it, how often do we nod towards progress and stay right where we stand – whatever...

Baltimore, MD – Beware of fake complaint reports coming from seatac@bbb.org. Better Business Bureau is warning businesses to beware of a new malicious e-mail that pretends to be from BBB about a complaint filed against the company. The e-mail first came to BBB’s attention on April 12, 2010. Businesses across the US and several in Maryland have reported receiving a suspicious e-mail from the address seatac@bbb.org with the subject line “BBB Complaint Case #” followed by a nine-digit number. Both BBB Accredited...

New Career Program for Entrepreneurial Boomers in the Baltimore region Launches on April 22, 2010 Boomers & Business: Creating Your Next Career, a ground-breaking eight- week program for boomers considering entrepreneurship as their second act, is being offered by Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore Inc., (WEB) and scheduled to begin April 22, 2010, in Columbia, Maryland Boomers, especially women, are expected to create the next economic wave as they start small businesses to supplement...

How do you save time? What makes you choose to spend time over a given activity versus another? Do you struggling with the almost impossible concept of "having it all?" Or are you just resigned to the fact you're never going to get to do everything on your to do list? Business owners...especially small business owners often are called upon to do - EVERYTHING in their business until things get going. Over time develops a little...

Women business owners, are you using personal credit cards to fund your business? With the incredibly limited access to capital or credit of any source for a micro or very small business… it’s pretty much all you’re left to work with.  That's why more than ever - it is important to know what you're dealing with. Today's businesswoman is trying to make it happen any way she can. Let's face it - that's the...

Who doesn’t like to save a buck, and let’s face it – it’s pretty critical to do so, if you want to stay competitive and financially healthy as a small business. People can make the silliest mistakes in an effort to do this though, and it’s a common error to be “penny wise and pound foolish”. I recently sat down with Marie Hartman of Hartman Technologies and we had a fascinating conversation about this, in...

This article came via "Ragan's Daily Headlines"  - or courtesy of Ragan.com (a site that's directed to help communicators become more effective.)  It's written by a woman named Daphne Gray-Grant, who is a writing coach. She has a nice web site and offers a complimentary newsletter (to learn more or subscribe click here.)  Also, when you sign up for her newsletter she offers you this terrific complimentary e-gift booklet on "Mindmapping" that can also help you...

This week on Woman Talk Live  Radio Join Ann Quasman on 05/29/10 for:  Why Don't I Do the Things I Know Are Good for Me? We all know what we need to do - eat right, exercise more, get plenty of rest, save our money, and make smart decisions in our own best interest.  But instead, is seems like we take good care of everyone else and neglect ourselves.   With the hectic nature of daily life, from making school lunches, dealing with a crisis...

By Trish Dozier, LA4HER.com COI   Body language is powerful in every area in our lives, but in business, is held under the finest tuned microscope.  The thing women in business often forget, which is essential, is that we can choose what we want to give off just as easily as what we choose to wear before tackling every new day.  Choice is powerful in everything that we do. How often do you think about the little things you do with your “outer”...

More than 2,500 women’s business enterprises (WBEs) and corporations will convene in Baltimore, Maryland, to fast track business contracts and bolster the economy at the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s (WBENC) 11th Annual Women in Business Conference and Business Fair: The Opportunity Connection (WIB2010), the largest of its kind in the nation, from June 22-24, 2010. The conference and fair are co-hosted by the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization-DC (WPEO-DC), WBENC’s regional partner, and will take place at the Hilton Baltimore...

It's about a lot more than sharing what you had for lunch... It's not secret that we're a fan of SmallBizTrends.com - and there's a reason why - GREAT Content. Recently they posted this fantastic article by Tyler Garns on social media and how you can monetize it to your best benefit...we liked it so much - we thought we'd put a bit of it up here for you to check out: "Not long ago, Anita led an @sbbuzz Twitter chat on the...

What is a CrowdPitch? This event will bring entrepreneurs, innovators, mentors, support providers, and investors together in an informal and energetic setting.Think ´American Idol´ — selected entrepreneurs will have 4 minutes to pitch their company to both a panel of experts & a live audience, followed immediately by a 3-minute Q&A session with the panel.A free networking lunch will follow the formal pitch.Event DetailsJune 16th11:30 - 1:30 pmTowson University - Minnegan Room800 York Rd.Towson, MDPrizesThe winner gets $8,850 of services from...

This has been a pretty interesting week for MyCity4Her.com - On Wednesday we were    particularly honored and excited to be part of a forward thinking, tech-savvy audience at a fantastic event put on by the Greater Baltimore Committee and Tom Loveland - the City's newly appointed "Google Czar" If you've been hiding under a rock - you may have missed that Baltimore has made an aggresive grass roots bid to be one of the chosen few cities Google will pick...

Staying inspired when you're in business By Monyka Berrocosa, Founder of MyCity4Her.com Yesterday I attended the grand opening of the Women’s Heritage Center in Maryland. What an amazing experience! I’ve known Jill Moss Greenberg, the founder for about 4 years and it was phenomenal to be privy to the realization of her vision. This woman has worked tirelessly, along with some very good people – not to mention her “partner in crime” Linda Chevitz to create a place where visitors, residents and...

By Trish Dozier, LA4HER Affiliate It's true; no one multitasks like a busy woman.  And instead of actually doing something to reverse the damage that is done from this hyper-superb-quality, we generally power through it.  We complain occasionally.  We break down, get back up, and repeat.  And we’re always growing.  And with that, we tend to pile a little more on, well, because we’re good at it.  There exists a moment that wakes some of us up from this cycle,...

Since 1996, The Daily Record Maryland has recognized more than 800 high-achieving Maryland women who are making an impact through their leadership, community service and mentoring. To view a list of past winners and more information about this event click here....

  Osteoporosis and Pilates Courtesy of Andrea McManus – Owner of Affiliate Business Flex-Ability Pilates Is Pilates good for this?   Osteoporosis is the gradual and silent loss of bone and not a normal aging process. It is defined as a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture (NOF 2005). Osteopeniais mildly reduced bone mass--a loss of approximately 10%-20%--indicating the onset of osteoporosis.       Osteoporosis is showing up in people younger...

  Recently we just went through some of our most challenging experiences as a three year old start-up. Without boring you with the details suffice it to say for the past weeks we’ve done nothing but feel like we’re fighting the wars – and at times weren’t sure if we were losing the battle or winning it. Well, the jury is out on if we won or not...however, for the time being all is quiet on the Western front, and we're...